Hawthorn

Indication: Heart failure

Source: American Heart Journal, 2002;143:910-915

Research: Researchers treated 209 patients who had suffered from severe heart failure for at least six months. Treatments consisted of one of three regimens: 1800 mg of hawthorn extract, 900 mg of hawthorn or placebo. The treatments lasted for 16 weeks, and the patients’ exercise capacity was carefully measured by their performance on stationary exercise bicycles.

Results: After 16 weeks, patients taking the higher dosage of hawthorn extract (1800 mg) had significant improvements in exercise tolerance, compared with patients taking either the lower dose of hawthorn or the placebo. Only 1.4% of the patients taking the 1800 mg dosage of hawthorn had side effects (dizziness and vertigo) compared with 10% of those taking placebo.